“The devil! What a lugubrious sign!” exclaimed Quentin after reading it.
“Do you see this hut?” asked Don Gil. “Well, every intrigue that God ever turned loose, goes on here. But let us go in.”
They entered, and a cracked voice shouted:
“Who is it?”
“I, Señora Patrocinio, Don Gil Sabadía, who comes with a friend. Bring a light, for we’re going to stay a while.”
“One moment.”
The old woman descended with a lamp in her hand, and led the two men into a small parlour where there was a strong odour of lavender. She placed the lamp on the table and said:
“Some small olives, and a little wine.”
The old woman opened a cupboard, took out a dish of olives, another of biscuits, and two bottles of wine.